Bedding machine



March 6, 1934. B. G. CALL BEDDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 25, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet l March s, 1934. B.. G. CALL 1,949,861

BEDDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 25, 192s 4 sheets-sheet 2 o 4 r cr (l LD g m cn LD m l f T uln. Mh".- m :i In lll llh..

S2 Pfr A 1151111111 Lo d E' 5'?" N .m CD n ('D m1 g r (La g N March 6, 1934. B. G. CALL BEDDING MACHINE 4 SheetsfSheet 3 Filed Aug. 25., 1928 FIG. 3

March 6, 1934. B. G. CALL BEDDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 25. 1928 4 Sheets-Shut 4 Patented Man 6, 1.934`

PATENT oFFlcE BEDDING MACHINE Benjamin George Call, Tacoma, Wash., assignor to American Smelting 8a Reiining Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 25, 1928, Serial No. 302,133

8 Claims. (01.214-10) The invention relates in general to machines for distributing materials in'layers over compara.- tively :largeareas and, more particularly, to a bedding machine for distributing ore on ore beds.

In the art of storing or bedding ore it is desirable to spread the ore evenly in comparatively thin layers over the entire area of the bed and thereby build up the bed of a large number of dierent layers made from the several charges or loads of ore brought into the plant. By this operation the bed may be made more nearly vuniform in character throughout its area. As ore is excavated from dilerent parts of the bed for treatment in the plant, the different loads will be substantially uniform in character even though the shipments of ore brought into the plant may vary in quality considerably." According to' the invention a bedding machine is provided which will spread the material-in as thin a layer as desired, having means for easily and nicely controlling the thickness of the layer. Themachne is of such construction that any material may be distributed therefrom, from fine, dry, crushed ores to slimes, the machine consuming small power and being easy to handle. The machine in the form shown comprises essentially a carriage having a hopper for holding ore on which rests an endless scraper belt for scraping the top of the ore off onto-the bed as the carriage moves over the bed.

The invention also consists in certain new and original features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, the mode of its operation and the manner of its organization may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which Fig. 1 represents a vertical section taken through the machine on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3- 3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is another vertical section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2, but showing the scraper in a lowered position;

Fig. 5 is a vertical side elevation of the bedding machine; and

Fig. 6 is a detail of the brake taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 7 isa section taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 5.

In -the following .description and in the claims parts-will be identified by specic names for convenience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application to similar parts as the art will permit.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specication, a practical commercial embodiment of the invention is shown, but as such illustration is primarily for purposes of disclosure, it will be understood that the structure may be modied in various respects without departure from the board spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter dened and claimed.

Referring now tothe drawings and more particularly to Fig. 1, a bedding machine is shown riding ona pair of rails 10 one on each side of the bed. The lower edge of the overhead chargingehopper 11v is shown dotted and is arranged preferably-midway between the ends of the bed. The bed may be comparatively wide, say about 16 feet; hence the'frame of the bedding machine must be of bridge-like construction. The bridge-like frame of the machine is provided with a plurality of hoppers 12 in each of which an endless belt scraper 13 is provided. In operation it will be understood that each hopper will receive its load from the overhead bin 11 and the scraper 13 resting on the load will scrape the load out of the hoppers as the machine rides along the rails.

The frame is made up of a number of longitudinal structural members and a number of long bridge-like transverse structural members suitably secured thereto. Suitable wheels riding on the rails are provided at both ends of the frame. The mounting of the rear Wheels is shown best in Fig. 3 and each rear wheel 14 together with a spur gear l5 is mounted on a separate shaft 16 suitably journaled in the frame. The spur gears l5 are driven by pinions mounted on a transverse shaft 17 extending the entire Width of the bridge and supported in suitable bearings. Mounted on the shaft 17 is a spur gear 18 which is driven by a pinion 19 mounted on the shaft of a reduction unit 20 driven by the driving motor 2l.

At the front end of the machine a separate truck is provided for each front wheel. Each truck comprises a pair of parallel plates 22 between which is journalled the Wheel 23 on an axle 24 secured to the plates 22. These plates are secured together by a pair of angular castings 25, one on either side of the wheel 23. Se-

cured to the main frame of the machine are a pair of plates 26 and 27, between which the plates 22 of the truck t with sliding relation. Secured to the plates 26 and 27 are angular castings 28 located above the castings 25. A pair of coil springs 29 are positioned between each upper and lower casting 25 and 28 and held in position by pins 30 secured to one of the castings and slidable in the other casting. The frame of the machine is provided with angles 30a and 31 for limiting the longitudinal movement of the truck. It will, therefore, be seen that the truck is slidably mounted between the plates 26 and 27 and between the angles 30a and 31. These coil springs take up, to a large degree, the impact of the heavy charge when it is dumped from the overhead bin 11 into the hoppers 12.

The hoppers 12 which are built into the frame comprise a vertical front wall 32 having an inclined upper portion and an inclined bottom wall 33, these walls forming roughly a V-shaped con- -tainer. Suitable vertical side walls 34 are provided both outside and between the hoppers. The .rear end of the bottom wall of the hoppers is unobstructed so the scrapers 13 may easily discharge the ore, as shown clearly in Fig. 4.

Positioned in each hopper is the belt conveyor scraper 13. This scraper comprises a suitable frame made up of two pairs of longitudinal members 35 and a transverse member 36 connected .by suitable connectors 37. A transverse drive shaft 38 is extended entirely across the main frame, is joumaled in suitable bearings and has keyed thereto a spur gear 39 positioned between the hoppers. One end of each conveyor frame is loosely journaled on this shaft. Between each pair of longitudinal frame members 35 are journaled three sprockets. The outer sprockets 40 and 4l support the ends of the belt conveyor while the middle sprocket 42 support the middle of the conveyor to prevent it from sagging as shown clearly in Fig. 4. Each conveyor comprises two chains 43 and a number of angle bars 44 suitably connected to the links of the chain.

Rotatably mounted, one on each end of the transverse shaft 38, is a sector gear 45 having an arcuate tooth portion 46 and a projecting V-portion 47. Extending across the machine and connecting the V-portion 47 of the sector gears is a transverse beam 48. For supporting each conveyor a pair of hangers 49 extends from this beam 48 to the ends of the transverse member 36 of the conveyor frame. A suitable coil spring 50 is provided on each hanger between the V-portion of the sector gear and an abutment 51 on the hanger. For driving the belt conveyors a pinion 52 is provided meshing the spur gear 39 and mounted upon a transverse shaft 53 which has mounted on its outer end a spur gear 54. Driving the spur gear 54 is a pinion 55 mounted upon a shaft of a reduction unit 56 driven by motor 57.

For raising and lowering the scrapers a shaft 58 is provided extending across the frame having a pinion 59 on either end meshing the teeth of the sector gears 45. Mounted upon this shaft is a bevel gear 60 meshing with a similar bevel gear 61 mounted on a longitudinal shaft 62. This shaft 62 has a spur gear 63 which is driven by a pinion 64 mounted upon a worm wheel shaft 65 of a Worm gear reduction unit 66. The worm of the unit 66 is mounted upon the shaft of a driving motor 67 and mounted between the unit 66 and the motor is a brake drum 68.

Cooperating with the brake drum 68 (Fig. 6) is a brake shoe 69 which is pivotally mounted on the end of a. curved brake lever 70 suitably pivoted to the frame at 71. A weight 72 is hung from the outer end of this lever. A foot lever 73 having a pedal 74 is also pivoted to the frame at 75 and to the pivot 76 pivotally connecting levers 70 and 73 and weight 72.

Each of the three electric motors 21, 57, 67 is driven by its separate manually controlled,

vdrum type controller 77, 78, 79 and it will be understood that suitable safety devices (not shown) are provided for limiting the extent of movement which the individual motors cause.

It will be seen that the scrapers must be raised and lowered together and that they may be. constantly driven together at the same time they are raised and lowered without interfering with the raising and lowering operation.

It will also be seen that the weight 72 normal- A1y Aholds-the brake on so that, when it is desired to raise the scrapers to the position shown in Fig. 1, the brake pedal must be depressed and the lifting motor 67 driven.

To fill the machine it is run under the overhead bin 11 with the scrapers in raised position as shown in Fig. 1 and the material is allowed to drop from the overhead bin to -ll the several hoppers 12 to the extent, for instance, shown in Fig. 1. The springs 29 at the front of the machine take up the impact due to the great weight of the falling ore. After the hoppers are filled the scrapers are lowered so that they rest on the material in the hoppers. These scrapers are lowered by driving the lifting motor 67 in reverse with its controller the rst notch without releasing the brake. It will be understood that this .brake is provided as a safe-guard to eliminate any possibility of the weight of the scrapers driving the worm unit 66 backwards and to cause the lifting motor 67 to stop immediately when power is cut off.

Theore is then discharged by driving 'the scrapers and at the same time driving the carriage, say forward, and lowering the scrapers slowly as the material is pushed out of the hoppers by them. It will be seen that by adjusting the relative speeds of the machine scraper belts, and the lowering of the scraper, any desired rate of feed or spread of the ore may be obtained.

After the machine has run from its filling position to one end of the bed with its scrapers delivering ore, the scrapers may be raised, and the machine run, for instance, back to the central or filling position, and then the machine may be run to the other end of the bed with the scrapers delivering ore as before.

Thus a bedding machine has been provided which may be nicely adjusted to make a layer of any desired thickness. The controls are convenient and the machine is easy to handle. Furthermore this machine can handle any kind of material, including ore of any condition from fine dry concentrates to heavy wet slimes. machine may be built comparatively inexpensively and is rugged in construction, occupies but small space compared to the tonnage it handles and will give long and satisfactory service.

While certain novel features of the invention I have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those The.

skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed isz- 1. In an apparatus of the class described, a carriage adapted to move along over a bed, a hopper disposed on said carriage, a conveyor having an endless delivery member in said hopper, said hopper having an inclined bottom and forming a material-holding container, means pivoting said conveyor at the upper end of said bottom, said conveyor being adapted to rest on the load and drop as the load is discharged by said delivery member over the upper end of said inclined bottom, and means for raising said conveyor about its pivot point, and means for driving said delivery member.

2. A bedding machine comprising a carriage having separate parts for holding material to be bedded, a scraper for each part, means for driving said Scrapers to scrape the top of said material to feed said material onto a bed, means for feeding said Scrapers downwardly, means for driving said carriage, means for independently adjusting the speed of said Scrapers, the speed of downward feed thereof and the speed of said carriage, whereby to distribute a layer of the desired thickness on the bed.

3. In a bedding system, a bedding machine adapted to extend across the bed and to run along a pair of rails located on opposite sides of the bed, said bedding machine comprising a frame having hoppers thereon receiving material to be bedded, separate trucks one for each rail, each truck having a wheel adapted to ride on the adjacent rail, said trucks supporting one end of said frame and being located adjacent said hoppers, resilient devices between said frame and said trucks for taking up the impact of material placed in said hoppers, further wheels adapted to ride on said rails for supporting the other end of said frame, drive devices disposed on said frame for driving said last mentioned wheels, and means for distributing said material from said hoppers onto said bed.

4. In a bedding system, a bedding machine adapted to run along a track, said bedding machine comprising a frame having a hopper thereon receiving material to be bedded, a separate truck having a wheel riding on said track for supporting one part of said frame and located adjacent said hopper, resilient devices between said frame and said truck for taking up the impact of material placed in said hopper, a further wheel adapted to ride on said track for rigidly supporting another part of said frame remote from said hopper, drive devices disposed on said frame for driving said last mentioned wheel, and means for distributing said material from said hopper onto a bed.

5. In an ore bedding system, a bedding machine comprising a bridge adapted to extend across the bed and to move back and forth on a trackway, a plurality of hoppers on said bridge adapted to receive the material to be bedded and arranged side by side across said bridge, each hopper having a high front wall and an inclined bottom wall arranged in substantial V-shape, an endless chain conveyor for each hopper, said conveyor comprising side chains and angle bars connecting the chains, a bull sprocket for each chain disposed at the low wall, a shaft for all said sprockets, a frame on said shaft for each conveyor, outer sprocket wheels on said frame for said chains, a sector gear on said shaft at each end, a beam connecting said sector gears, hangers connecting said beam and frames, said conveyors being adapted to rest upon the load in said hoppers, means for moving said conveyors to discharge the load over the inclined bottom, and means for raising and lowering said conveyors.

6. In an ore bedding system, a bedding machine comprising a bridge adapted to extend across and to be located close to the bed and to move back and forth on a trackway, a hopper on said bridge, an endless chain conveyor in said hopper, said conveyor comprising side chains and angle bars connecting the chains, a bull sprocket for each chain disposed at one side of said hopper, a shaft for said sprockets, a frame on said shaft for said conveyor, outer sprocket wheels on said frame for said chains, a sector gear on said shaft, means including hangers connecting said sector gear and frame, said conveyor being disposed wholly above the load in said hopper, means for moving said conveyor to discharge the load, and means for raising and lowering said conveyor.

7. In an ore bedding system, a bedding machine comprising a bridge adapted to extend across and to be located close to the bed and to move back and forth on a trackway, a plurality of hoppers on said bridge arranged side by side across said bridge, each hopper having a high front wall and an inclined bottom wall arranged in substantial V-shape, an endless chain conveyor for each hopper, said conveyor comprising side chains and angle bars connecting the chains, a bull sprocket for each chain disposed at the low wall, a shaft for all said bull sprockets, a frame on said shaft for each conveyor, outer sprockets on each frame for said chains, a sector gear on said shaft at each end, a beam connecting said sector gears, hangers connecting said beam and frames, said conveyors being adapted to rest upon the load in said hoppers, means for moving said conveyors to discharge the load over the inclined bottom, pinion; driving said sector gears for raising and lowering said conveyors together, drive wheels between the rear end of said bridge and trackway, trucks for supporting the front end of said bridge, spring devices between said trucks and bridge to absorb shock caused by dumping ore into said hoppers, and wheels on said trucks adapted to ride on said trackway.

8. In a bedding machine for bedding ore in successive thin layers of large area covering the orc bed, a machine frame of sufficiently great length to bridge the bed and having wheels adapted to ride on trackways on opposite sides of the bed, means to drive the machine along the trackways, said machine having container devices extending the length thereof and also bridging the bed, said container devices receiving the ore to be bedded,

a plurality of separate discharging devices for discharging ore from said container devices from the top thereof and uniformly along the length of the container devices, means for driving said discharging devices to gradually discharge the ore from the machine so that the ore is distributed and spread in a thin layer over the area of the bed as the machine moves along the trackway.

B45 BENJAMIN GEORGE CALL. 

